The district says it's having trouble getting some of its staff to come to work, including teachers.

The district says it's having trouble getting some of its staff to come to work, including teachers.

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Updated: 6:27 PM EDT Aug 20, 2014

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WEBVTT POLICE SAY THE VAN IS A DARK RED OR MAROON, WORK VAN. TO HARRISBURG NOW WHERE THE DISTRICT SAYS ITS HAVING TROUBLE GETTING SOME OF THE STAFF, TO COME TO WORK INCLUDING TEACHERS. NEWS 8 HARRISBURG REPORTER PORCHA JOHNSON HAS THE STORY. ON ANY GIVEN DAY AT THE HARRISBURG SCHOOL DISTRICT, 12% OF THE EMPLOYEES ARE NOT AT WORK, THAT IS ACCORDING TO THE DISTRICT'S RECOVERY PLAN, CREATED BY GENE ZENO. THAT'S A HIGH NUMBER WE NEED TO GET THAT DOWN WE NEED TO KNOW WHY ITS A HIGH NUMBER. THE DISTRICT'S CHIEF RECOVERY OFFICER SAYS THE EMPLOYEES, INCLUDE TEACHERS MAINTENANCE AND FOOD SERVICE WORKERS. HE SAYS THE ABSENCES INCLUDE SICK DAYS VACATION AND ALL OTHER PAID AND UNPAID LEAVE. VENO SAYS IT IMPACTS CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION. YOU KNOW AND I KNOW, WHENEVER YOU HAVE A SUBSTITUTE THAT FIRST DAY WAS FUN THE SECOND DAY, WONDER, BY THE THIRD DAY I NEED MY INFORMATION. THE PRESIDENT OF THE TEACHERS UNION SAYS, LOW MORAL, DUE TO PAY CUTS AND FREEZES, HAS PLAYED A PART IN TEACHER ABSENCES HE SAYS THE REAL PROBLEM, IS NOT, ABSENT WORKERS. HERE IT IS THE FIRST FEW DAYS OF SCHOOL WE HAVE SUBSTITUTES ALL OVER THE DISTRICT NOT BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE CALLING IN SICK BECAUSE THE DISTRICT HAS FAILED, FAILED TO HIRE TEACHERS, FOR THOSE PLACES AND NOW THEY WANT TO BLAME IT ON OUR ABSENTEEISM THEY NEED TO GET A REALITY CHECK. VENO SAYS THIS IS PUTTING AN EXTRA EXPENSE ON THE DISTRICT HE SAYS MORE THAN A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR IS BEING SPENT MAINLY FOR SUBSTITUTES, HE SAYS THIS IS MONEY, THAT COULD BE SPENT TO INCREASE EMPLOYEE SALARIES. WHY NOT TURN IT INTO A POSITIVE RECOVERY BY SAYING, COME TO WORK, MAYBE THERE IS INCENTIVES THAT WE COULD DO. IN HARRISBURG, PORCHA JOHNSON, NEWS 8. , HAVE ENO SAYS HE IS WORKING WITH THE DISTRICT TO

Why are Harrisburg School District employees missing work?

The district says it's having trouble getting some of its staff to come to work, including teachers.